Hello, my name is Marie-Kell. Everyone calls me MK or Emka, so you can too :)

I'm a violinist-marine biologist on a mission to explore eco-spirituality and interconnectedness through music and science. Help fund my PhD blending art, science, and activism!

Who am I?

I am a lifelong enthusiast about life itself. And, what inspires us to see and hold beauty, and protect this beautiful planet. How can we truly be a part of it, be nature, without capitalism's extractive logic destroying it? This system treats earth as an infinite resource for endless growth, how do we move beyond this toxic extractive mindset? We've all been aware of this for a while now, but it's time to move and get to work changing it, once and for all.

So, I started a PhD.

I wanted to surround myself with extraordinary, like-minded thinkers who could help me. Who could guide me forward, searching, living, and brainstorming ideas and methods that can make us feel, and become, part of something greater. For that, I use the tools I grew up with: music, science, an enormous love and admiration for nature, activism, and creativity.

My PhD and how it started:

This PhD builds onto of my life's discoveries and work. I've been so lucky to play music with people across the globe, in places I've reached mostly by sailboat - because I believe we must take time to honor slow travels and cultures that change by latitude. Also because I love sailing, and grew up with a deep ocean connection. All these passions bring me happiness, and I want to keep giving back with what I’ve learned. After 3 master degrees and endless violin performances around the world, I want to take my work to the next level.

The music we've played and the wills and aspirations of these people I've met along the way always lead back to a few things. Humanity. And love.

How do we share the love and respect for each other, for every human and non-human being on this planet? How do we feel truly interconnected and in harmony, and therefore, to want to respect and give back?

I'm incredibly lucky to have a joint art-science doctoral program in Scotland, between the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the University of St Andrews. It's part-time over 6 years, because it's also based on field experiences - deeply immersed either giving concerts and conferences or learning from people and the wisdom hidden but felt in society.

Here's the PhD title:

Interconnectedness in Practice: Exploring Eco-Spirituality Through Musical Performance and Autoethnography.

We can explore this in multiple layers. I want to share it in layers because I know this subject isn't understood by everyone. Or can seem lunatic. You choose what resonates with you.

My PhD in layers:

Music layer: Violin + whale songs for policymakers/CEOs

Firstly, I've developed something quite precious to me over the years: playing violin with whale vocalizations. Maybe some of you have seen or heard me; others might wonder, "what is she on about?". I try to perform in the least expected places. My biggest motivation is to perform for decision-makers and policymakers, in conferences and panel discussions. Because those are the most sterile contexts where they make crucial political decisions affecting us all.

I also play for CEOs obsessed with turnover, as well as for citizens, friends, and schools. I think everyone should hear whale vocalizations—this voice of the ocean that I want to keep sharing with the world.

I feel truly blessed to be able to perform with these mighty whales that I recorded and saw with my own eyes. And when I perform, something happens. People come up to me, saying they hadn't felt that in a long time.

But what is that?

That's what we're here for. I personally think, it's a deep feeling of belonging. So the next layer - beneath the composing and music creation that will be happening in the coming years - is one about emotions.

Emotion layer: Autoethnography with wisdom keepers

I'll conduct an autoethnographic study of situations I find myself in, surrounded by wisdom keepers and traditional and local knowledge holders. Those who feel the earth, those who have nurtured our relationship with her. But also, those who don't sense its importance, who see her as a commodity. Both extremes are valuable to me, helping me understand the crisis and how we can address it. My natural science background is turning toward social sciences—and I'm really excited about it.

Science and spirituality layer: Beyond data to felt connection

Still, as a marine biologist, staying connected to science is important to me. We've studied the planet, its physiology, its ecosystems, for so long now. We have a HUGE dataset showing how things work, how they interconnect, and we've put numbers and statistics on it to understand and produce scientific articles.

Communicating what those numbers mean to everyday people—to mere humble mortals who don't speak science, as well as to policymakers—is urgent right now. There's so much to understand, but we also need to feel it, to curate that connection to the living world. That's why art and science matter together.

This is also how I started activism at the end of my master's degree - because research wasn't enough. I had to raise my voice to protect the very whales I was studying.

The underlying layer here explores what lies beyond science—and this is where eco-spirituality comes in. As a Catholic-raised kid, I grew up with the notion that humans were divine, above nature. Spending time in diverse spiritual cultures and paths, I've moved away from that notion, drawing closer to Indigenous knowledge and the infinite world surrounding it.

And so I ask myself daily: What do I believe in?

We must do deep work to find our roots and ancestors. Born and raised in the US with Belgian parents—both countries with terrifying colonial pasts—I ask: Who are my ancestors? The people who feel the earth's spirit, who receive messages from it through cultivated, authentic relationships—with themselves and a close interdependence with the earth, truly believing she loves them back.

There is a hidden language in everything around us, messages we need to hear. But we must quiet the frantic efficiency and consumerist mindset we've grown up with. I think music can truly help with this.

Your funding transforms my accomplished/ongoing Year 1 fieldwork into high-impact outputs—proving execution meets deliverables:

Fieldwork accomplished/ongoing (2025):

Year 1 deliverables:

Why participate?

I'm honored to work with Dr. Emily Doolittle, Dr. Laura Bissell, Dr. Alex South, and Dr. Eric Poncelet.

I've self-funded this niche PhD to date because climate decisions can't wait and I truly believe this work is urgent. I sense it in conversations around the world and I believe I can help—but I now need resources to scale impact. This niche art-science PhD lacks traditional funding because grants favor mainstream approaches.

Are you willing to help?

Here is a bit more of practical information with numbers (and no statistics).

Collected funds will cover my project's ongoing costs*. The total cost for one year (including salary) is estimated at €27,500.

I've set a goal of €10,000 here. Are you a larger sponsorship or interested in collaborations? Message me—I'm building long-term partnerships with policymakers, companies and NGO's. Also, for concerts and conferences, I will be reaching out depending on the donation.

*Your contribution will not only fund my PhD, but also allow me to continue all vital volunteer/activism work happening this year. Important initiatives - such as needing to work on sailboats that will join a certain flotilla later this year - are underway. Please message me if you want to know more.

Can't wait to embark on this adventure together! Thanks a million

-MK

Disclaimer: No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or promotions are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe.